Vanishing Acts

by Jaimee Wriston Colbert

Vanishing Acts is the story of three generations of a troubled family, set in a Hawai’i both fantastical and gritty. Shadowed by the Viet Nam War, addiction, and the perils of climate change, they grapple with the ghosts of their past and present, including a father whose love of surfing and obsession with Houdini helped him become the ultimate escape artist.

326 pages, Paperback

Published September 9, 2017

Reviews

[Anne Earney · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn't bad. For me it read more as a novel with changing POV characters than as interconnected stories. I liked the setting and many of the characters, but found a lot of the plot difficult to buy into. It seemed loosely put together. One of the most interesting aspects, that of disappearing, wasn't really explored until the end of the book.

[Barrett Bowlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book, and I think I love it because Wriston Colbert understands and writes about the idea of pressure so perfectly. The pressure of trying to take care of an elderly mother and a teenage son at the same time (as told from the perspective of Gwen, one of the book's three protagonists). The pressure of lust that her son, Buddy, feels for a native Hawai'ian runaway. The pressure of dementia on her mother's (Madge's) body and mind and everyone else around the afflicted. And on top of that, the pressure of losing the family patriarch to a fateful surfing wave all those years ago.

Set in Hawai'i, on both the Big Island and O'ahu, VANISHING ACTS gave me a chance to see how a paradise to some might feel like a prison to others, and how such intense beauty around you can feel stifling, if not almost fatal. This sense of longing and loss on the islands is a recurring theme of Wriston Colbert's, found in books like SHARK GIRLS and DREAM LIVES OF BUTTERFLIES, but how these characters' lives intersect inside the chaos and entropy of time gets a fresh perspective in her new novel, and I can't wait to see what she'll come out with next.

[Janice R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vanishing Acts is a rare kind of novel that captures the complexity of family life with unflinching honesty and lyrical grace. It’s not just a story about one boy or one family it’s about the way history seeps into us, shaping who we are and how we love. The three generations Madge, Gwen, and Buddy are drawn with such nuance that I felt like I was living alongside them, watching their struggles unfold in a world both intimate and vast.

The author’s ability to balance gritty realism with almost dreamlike imagery is remarkable. The Hawaii of this novel is alive not just in its beauty, but in its rawness, its storms, its volcanoes, and its undercurrents of danger and hope. The subplot with Marnie added an electrifying urgency to the story, while Gwen’s battle with her own addictions and faith gave it heartbreaking depth.

What impressed me most was the courage to explore escape not just physical escape, but emotional, spiritual, and generational. This theme, symbolized through Houdini and surfing, tied the novel together beautifully. I closed the last page feeling both devastated and uplifted, as though I had lived through these characters’ vanishing acts myself.

Truly, this is storytelling at its finest raw, evocative, and utterly unforgettable.

[Irvin P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vanishing Acts is nothing short of mesmerizing. The author has woven a tapestry of family secrets, broken dreams, and the unrelenting pull of the past into a narrative that is both heart-wrenching and beautiful. What I found most compelling was how the novel doesn’t shy away from the grit of life addiction, broken families, forgotten dreams yet it still manages to show how love, in all its complicated forms, drives every decision. The Hawaiian setting was not painted as a glossy paradise but as a raw, almost mythic landscape where characters confront their deepest fears and desires.

Buddy’s journey resonated with me deeply, especially his desperate longing for connection with Marnie, which felt so authentic to the teenage search for love and escape. Gwen, too, stood out a mother both flawed and painfully human, battling her addictions while trying to rescue her son and herself. The generational echoes of trauma were powerful, and the Houdini motif added a brilliant layer of symbolism.

This book is haunting, immersive, and unforgettable. A triumph of storytelling that will stay with me for a long time.

[Jessica E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Vanishing Acts" is an emotionally charged, multigenerational saga that intertwines personal struggles with broader historical and cultural shifts. The novel’s ability to capture the lingering effects of the Vietnam War, the modern challenges of climate change, and the intimate realities of family dysfunction is nothing short of masterful. The author’s portrayal of Hawaii is particularly compelling lush, dangerous, and deeply symbolic of the characters’ own fractured lives. Buddy’s innocence, Gwen’s desperation, and Madge’s fading grip on reality all create a tapestry of human vulnerability and resilience. This book is as much about survival as it is about escape, and it leaves the reader reflecting on the ties that bind us, even when we try hardest to break free.

[Denise J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our book club was completely captivated by Vanishing Acts. We chose it because of its Hawaiian setting, but what we found inside was so much more than a tropical backdrop it was an emotional, multi-layered journey that hit every one of us in a different way. The story of Buddy and his fractured family felt deeply human and painfully real. Gwen’s struggle with faith, alcohol, and mental exhaustion broke our hearts, and Madge’s fading grip on reality was portrayed with such compassion. The novel shows how trauma and broken dreams ripple across generations. We talked for hours about how the author turned Hawaii into both paradise and purgatory lush and suffocating at the same time. This is a story that lingers long after you finish it.

[Gregory J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vanishing Acts is a powerful, multi-layered story that captures the complexity of family, loss, and survival across generations. What struck me most is how vividly the author paints Hawaii not as just a paradise, but as a place where beauty and hardship coexist in raw honesty. The characters feel deeply real, flawed yet unforgettable, each carrying wounds that echo through time. Buddy’s coming-of-age journey, set against Gwen’s struggles and Madge’s fading grip on reality, is heartbreaking and hopeful all at once. This is a novel that doesn’t just tell a story it makes you feel it in your bones. A truly moving achievement that deserves to be read, remembered, and celebrated.

[Ardis C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vanishing Acts is one of those rare novels that lingers with you long after you’ve finished. It’s beautifully layered family drama, historical shadows, addiction, love, and the restless search for freedom. I was especially touched by how the author used Houdini as a thread throughout the story it was such a clever and symbolic way to show how each character longed to break free from something. The writing was lyrical yet grounded, pulling me into a Hawaii that felt alive with both beauty and darkness. This is a book I’ll be recommending to everyone who loves stories about family, resilience, and the complicated ways we love each other.

[Craig K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vanishing Acts swept me away from the very first page. The characters feel so real flawed, broken, and searching for something bigger than themselves. I loved how the novel showed not only the struggles of one family but also the way those struggles echo through generations. Buddy’s confusion, Gwen’s heartbreak, and Madge’s fading grip on reality all came together in a way that was deeply moving. The Hawaii setting wasn’t just a backdrop; it was like another character wild, unpredictable, and unforgettable. This book is a masterpiece of atmosphere and emotion.

[James K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

What struck me most about Vanishing Acts was how raw and human it felt. Every character, no matter how flawed, carried a piece of truth that made me pause and reflect. Gwen, in particular, was heartbreaking her fight against her own demons while trying to hold her family together was both painful and inspiring. The scenes with Buddy and Marnie were so authentic to the way young love can blind us to danger, yet they also carried so much hope. This book doesn’t just tell a story it makes you feel every struggle, every escape, and every moment of grace. I can’t stop thinking about it.

[Sandra J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vanishing Acts" is a powerful multigenerational narrative that explores the frailty and resilience of family bonds. The story’s backdrop Hawaii caught between its idyllic beauty and its grittier realities adds a striking depth that mirrors the turbulence within the characters’ lives. The author skillfully layers the shadows of the Vietnam War, the anxieties of climate change, and the personal struggles of three generations into a seamless and evocative narrative. This is storytelling that is both tender and unflinchingly honest.

[Sam M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The novel captures the complexity of human relationships with remarkable nuance. Buddy’s coming-of-age journey is set against an interwoven history of loss, escape, and survival, making his choices all the more compelling. The character of Gwen, haunted yet raw, and Madge, with her fading grasp on reality, embody the heartbreaking ways trauma ripples through generations. The prose feels cinematic, pulling readers into the tension, beauty, and brokenness of a family trying desperately to hold itself together.

[Edward E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

We were moved by how authentically this book depicted Hawaii not just the postcard version, but the gritty reality of what happens beneath the dream. The author captured the tension between beauty and decay, hope and disillusionment. Our members connected deeply with the generational women Madge, Gwen, and Marnie each trapped in her own illusion of freedom. Buddy’s longing and confusion reminded us how fragile adolescence can be, especially in broken homes. By the end, we were left questioning what it truly means to “escape.” This is a book that haunts you softly but persistently.

[Vivian M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our discussion on Vanishing Acts turned into one of the most emotional nights we’ve had as a club. Each of us found pieces of ourselves in these characters a mother overwhelmed by guilt, a child searching for connection, a woman clinging to fading memories. The story’s structure, spanning from the Vietnam era to the modern climate crisis, beautifully connects personal turmoil with global change. It reminded us that generational pain doesn’t disappear; it evolves. The writing is lyrical yet unflinching, and the author’s portrayal of addiction and faith is honest and deeply empathetic.

[Michele M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

We expected a coming-of-age tale, but Vanishing Acts turned out to be a profound psychological and emotional exploration of what it means to love broken people. The conversations it sparked in our group were raw about family secrets, religion, escapism, and inherited trauma. Gwen’s unraveling felt so vivid and human that many of us had to pause and process. The use of Houdini’s obsession as a metaphor for running away from pain was pure brilliance. This book doesn’t offer neat resolutions, but instead something rarer: understanding.

[Harold Y. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our book club couldn’t stop talking about the layers of symbolism in Vanishing Acts. Every character is trying to disappear from guilt, responsibility, or love and yet, what they’re all truly seeking is to be seen. The portrayal of Hawaii was mesmerizing; it’s paradise, but also a place of reckoning. Buddy’s relationship with Marnie brought up important discussions about young love, vulnerability, and manipulation. It’s a tragic but deeply necessary read about how families fracture and sometimes find healing in the most unexpected ways.

[Leslie D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book hit home for us, not only because it’s set here on the Big Island, but because it felt honest. The Hawaii of Vanishing Acts is raw filled with beauty, struggle, and contradiction. The author didn’t romanticize it; they revealed its complexity. We were fascinated by the intergenerational dynamics: Madge trapped between fading memories, Gwen seeking redemption, and Buddy trying to find a future that isn’t poisoned by the past. It’s rare to read something that captures both the landscape and the soul of a place so perfectly.

[Danny V. · Rating 4 out of 5]

What makes Vanishing Acts exceptional is the way it situates intimate family drama within broader historical and environmental contexts. The echoes of the Vietnam War and the looming threat of climate change serve not just as backdrops but as shaping forces that influence the characters’ destinies. The thematic resonance is both timely and timeless, inviting readers to reflect on how personal lives are inextricably bound to the larger world.

[Catherine R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vanishing Acts succeeds as both a family saga and a study of escape in its many forms whether through addiction, dreams, or the literal pursuit of freedom. Each character is flawed yet achingly human, and their journeys are layered with emotional truth. The intergenerational lens provides richness, allowing the reader to witness how choices made decades earlier reverberate through the lives of children and grandchildren. This is storytelling at its finest urgent, haunting, and unforgettable.

[Scott B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

We were absolutely riveted. Vanishing Acts is the kind of novel that doesn’t just tell a story it pulls you inside it. The writing was so cinematic that we could picture every scene: the dense humidity, the flicker of volcanic light, the quiet ache of a boy lost between worlds. Our discussion centered on how the book explores the different ways people cope with pain through faith, drugs, or denial. It’s haunting, emotional, and beautifully written.

[Melanie J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our entire group agreed that this book belongs in literary discussions for its depth and artistry. The pacing is deliberate, almost hypnotic, as it layers memory, regret, and hope. Gwen’s journey was the most compelling for us her attempts to find God, sanity, and love while losing grip on reality were heartbreaking. The author handled mental health with such sensitivity and realism. By the final pages, we were in tears, not just because of the story’s tragedy, but because it felt true.

[Karie T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our meeting about this novel lasted over three hours, and still we felt there was more to unpack. Vanishing Acts is a masterpiece of emotional tension. The author didn’t shy away from portraying how religion, substance dependence, and trauma can coexist within a single household. We felt compassion for every character even when they made poor choices. It’s a raw but redemptive story that challenges you to see brokenness differently.

[Adrian L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story hit a tender spot for many of us. The theme of mothers and sons, of longing for connection yet feeling lost in your own family, resonated deeply. We found ourselves reflecting on our own parents and the secrets they might have carried. The pacing, the imagery, the emotional undercurrents everything about Vanishing Acts felt deliberate and artful. It’s one of those rare books that feels alive long after you close it.

[Brendan M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

We found this book achingly real. It’s not just a story it’s a portrait of broken people doing their best to survive love, loss, and memory. The writing was sharp yet tender, filled with little details that make you feel like you’re right there beside them. We admired how the author balanced humor and sorrow in such an organic way. It’s one of the most emotionally rewarding books we’ve read this year.

[Alfred L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vanishing Acts is a sweeping, multi-generational story that captures the fragile bonds of family against the backdrop of a Hawaii both beautiful and bruised. The author deftly weaves themes of memory, addiction, and survival, showing how the choices of one generation ripple into the lives of the next. It’s haunting, raw, and utterly unforgettable.

[Carl C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel is as layered as the volcanic landscape it inhabits. From the Vietnam War to the era of climate change, the story reveals not only the fractures within one family but also the broader fractures of society itself. The characters are deeply flawed yet achingly human, making their struggles resonate long after the final page.

[Alice J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gritty and poignant tale of loss, escape, and the desperate yearning to belong. The portrayal of Buddy’s innocence colliding with the harsh realities of adulthood is both heartbreaking and beautifully told. The author’s ability to juxtapose the fantastical dream of Hawaii with its darker undercurrents makes this a compelling, atmospheric read.

[Barbara J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

At once cinematic and intimate, Vanishing Acts captures the restless spirit of three generations caught between dreams and disillusionment. The themes of addiction, faith, and fractured love are handled with a sensitivity that makes the novel as tender as it is tough. A remarkable exploration of how we run from, and eventually return to, the places and people that shape us.

[Kevin J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The novel is a testament to survival of families, of memories, and of identities tested by time and circumstance. The story of Buddy and Gwen is not just about escape, but about confronting the ghosts that refuse to be buried. With prose that is lyrical and sharp, this book stays with you, echoing like the ocean waves that haunt its Hawaiian shores.

[Erin E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vanishing Acts is an emotionally charged story that brilliantly bridges personal struggle with broader historical and environmental shifts. The novel’s Hawaiian setting is more than just a backdrop it becomes a character in itself, shaping and challenging each generation of this fractured family. A bold, evocative work.